Posted By Ben Rohrbach On March 17, 2012 @ 11:17 am In General | No Comments

The NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year as a member of the 1985-86 Celtics that finished 67-15 during the regular season — and 41-1 at home in the Boston Garden — on their way to winning 15-of-18 playoff games and the franchise’s 16th NBA title, Bill Walton[1] can wish you a St. Patrick’s Day far better than I can.

So, without further ado, I give you Walton uncensored, about five or six Guinesses deep most likely (from his appearance on the Big Show[2] a year ago):

“Go Green. Go Guinness. I’m popping one right now. Ten million pints poured every day around this great globe of ours — the globe, the most perfect orb, just like the basketball. The basketball by itself does nothing, but when you make it an extension of your mind the way that [Rajon] Rondo does, the way that Danny Ainge did and DJ [Dennis Johnson[3]] and Larry [Bird] and Kevin [McHale] and Chief [Robert Parish[4]] and Jerry [Sichting] and Rick [Carlisle] and Scotty [Wedman] and all the guys did — but when you’re able to make an extension of your mind, of what it is you’re doing in life, whether it’s drinking a Guinness responsibly, whether you’re bouncing that magic basketball for the Celtic Green, you can make a difference, and that’s what we’re calling everybody to do on St. Patrick’s Day, the start of the college tournament, the most perfect harmonic convergence ever. Be bold, stand tall, quit your job and chase your dreams. …

“I only drink Guinness, the holy water falling from the sky, delivering spiritual guidance. We’re blessed. We’re so blessed. We’re on record pace, and we’re having the time of our life. …

“When this morning started, and it started more than 24 hours ago, the call to action was to take the day off. Who wants to lead a watered down life? C’mon. Let’s get up and be bold. Forget just taking the day off, just quit your job. Make your dream your job, and that’s what I was able to do. My parents ask me to this very day, ‘So, Billy, did you ever get a job?’ I’m closer than ever to being able to say yes. It’s so special. The remarkable thing about Guinness in our world is that in the mother country, Ireland, St. Patrick’s Day is a national holiday. In Canada, St. Patrick’s Day is a national holiday. Somewhere, we got lost along the path, along the golden road to unlimited devotion. …

“When you go over to Ireland, and you go to Dublin, and you go to the Guinness thing, they have the Hall of Brilliance, and I’m in there already. I’ve had a lot of honors in my world, and none more important than that one. …

“Assume responsibility. That’s what Guinness is all about. Live in a world of exploration, curiosity, experimentation that leads to a culture of generosity, but do it responsibly. If you’re looking around, blaming other people, if you’re not willing to stand tall and be bold, if you’re not willing to quit your job and chase your dreams, then what are you doing on the Boston Celtics[5]. Let’s go. What are the two sets of three from John Wooden[6]? Don’t whine, don’t complain, don’t make excuses, and don’t lie, don’t cheat, don’t steal. That covers a lot of ground. …

“The young people, the children, they don’t care that you have red hair and a big nose and a goofy, nerdy looking face and you stutter all the time and you’re a Deadhead and you’re drinking Guinness every minute. They’re going to care that you’re there, and when you care about them, they will care about you. Through practice and through a lifetime of experimentation, maybe you have a chance to play in the game of life one more time — that opportunity that Red [Auerbach] and Larry and Celtics Nation gave me. …

“It’s St. Patrick’s Day. Let’s go. Start the party early. Pop one early. Get that pint going.”

(Have a question, concern or conception for the next Irish Coffee? Send amessage to @brohrbach[7] on Twitter.)